December 2, 2002
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) board of Directors tied up several loose ends and heard a series of eligibility appeals at its regular meeting in the IHSA Office Monday (Dec. 2).
The Board took the following action Monday:
Girls Sports State Final Contracts: The Board approved an agreement with the Bloomington-Normal Sports Commission for hosting the girls state final basketball tournaments for the next three years. The interactive March Madness Celebration in Horton Fieldhouse will be discontinued. It will be replaced with receptions prior to the championship games for state championship teams from selected anniversary years. In addition, members of these teams will participate in a parade of champions on the Redbird Arena floor, giving fans attending the current games a chance to honor those from previous years. The Board also approved the minutes of its Oct. 31 conference call meeting where it approved an agreement with the Bloomington-Normal Sports Commission for hosting the girls state final volleyball tournament. In that meeting, the Board approved replacing the interactive Spike City with activities for coaches, captains and officials at Redbird Arena.
Basketball Travel, Housing Allowance: The Board approved a policy to pay identical mileage and team allowances to the schools advancing teams to the state final tournaments in boys and girls basketball.
2002-03 Girls Basketball Terms and Conditions: The Board approved a change in the Terms and Conditions for girls basketball to allow a sectional in Class A in Chicago to be held on Monday and Wednesday of week 33. It also will allow two Class AA regionals in Chicago to play the championship game on Friday in week 34. The change was authorized to alleviate facility scheduling problems.
Coaches Education Program: The Board approved the Quincy University Coaches Education Program. Students who pass the program will meet the requirements of the IHSA Coaching Qualification By-law 2.075.
Interpretation of By-law 3.105: The Board approved the interpretation that the by-law applies only during the school term. It prohibits high school students or teams from participating on, practicing with or competing against any college, junior college or university team.
Strategic Planning: The Board authorized formation of an action team to "review structure, governance and operational procedures of the Association". This strategy was one of eight adopted by the Association as part of its Second Strategic Planning.
E-Commerce Web Site Fee: The Board approved payment of invoiced fees due to Multi-Ad Services of Peoria for its work in developing an e-commerce site for IHSA. It has since been determined that the e-commerce site is not in the Association's long term plans.
Future Board Meeting Dates: The Board adopted the following tentative schedule for its regular meetings for the 2003-04 school term: July 13-15 (Sunday-Tuesday), August 11 (Monday), Sept. 8 (Monday), Oct. 14 (Tuesday), Dec. 1 (Monday), Jan. 12 (Monday), Feb. 16 (Monday), March 20 (Sat.), April 27 (Tuesday), June 14 (Monday).
Football Television Package: The Board approved minutes of its Nov. 16, 2002, meeting regarding a package of 2002 Football Playoff telecasts on AT&T Broadband. The package included a single rights fee payment for AT&T Broadband's coverage of games in the south suburbs, west suburbs and north suburbs for all levels in the series prior to the championship games.
Eligibility Decisions
1) Modified the Executive Director's ruling to make a senior transfer student eligible immediately at Olympia Fields (Rich Central). The student had been ruled ineligible for the remainder of the 2002-03 basketball season and until Nov. 17, 2002, in all other sports for non-compliance with transfer By-law 3.042. The student transferred from Homewood (Christian) to his home public high school, Olympia Fields (Rich Central) on Oct. 17, 2002. The Board concluded that the student's participation in basketball practices at the Homewood (Christian), which is not an IHSA member school, occurred prior to the start of the boys basketball season as defined by IHSA by-laws, and therefore did not constitute a violation of the by-law.
2) Sustained the Executive Director's ruling that a senior is ineligible for the 2002-03 school term at Monmouth (H.S.) for non-compliance with transfer By-law 3.043 and its sub-sections. The student transferred from Minooka to Monmouth (H.S.) after the start of the current school term. Guardianship has been changed from his mother with whom he resided in Minooka to a family in Monmouth.
3) Sustained the Executive Director's ruling that a junior is ineligible at Des Plaines (Maine West) for the 2002-03 school term for non-compliance with transfer By-law 3.042 and its sub-sections. The student transferred from Springboro, Ohio, to Maine West on Sept. 18, 2002. She resides with her parents outside the Maine West school district, and the family is paying tuition to attend Maine West.
4) Modified the Executive Director's ruling Monday making a student eligible immediately at Centralia as a foreign exchange student. The ruling was based on information provided at the hearing. The Executive Director previously ruled the student, who comes to Centralia from Australia, was not in compliance with the provisions necessary to be a foreign exchange student. (By-law 3.034.3)
5) Tabled a decision on an appeal made by Coach Frank Hood of Rockford (Christian Life), pending the receipt of further information. Hood was suspended from coaching at any IHSA member school for a period of one year, commencing Nov. 5, 2002, for exercising undue influence to secure the attendance of a student at Rockford (Christian Life).
Discussion Items
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items the Board discusses, but upon which it takes no action. Following is a report of those on the December 2002, agenda:
Eligibility Rulings: The Board heard a report that from July 1 to Nov. 18, 2002, the Executive Director has made 736 eligibility rulings with 469 being rules eligible and 267 being ineligible.
Pension Review: The Board heard a report from Ray Wicklander, representing Great Lakes Advisors, regarding the performance of the IHSA's pension portfolio.
Annual Audit: The Board received a preliminary draft of the annual audit by representatives of Clifton, Gunderson.
Peoria Civic Center Signage: The Board reviewed correspondence between the IHSA Office and the Peoria Civic Center regarding backlit signage in the Carver Arena for alcohol products.
Boys Gymnastics Items: The Board reviewed correspondence from Schaumburg High School indicating this will be the last year for the school to host the state final event. The 52nd annual Boys State Final Meet is scheduled for Friday-Saturday May 16-17, 2003. The Board also heard a report that the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) cease writing and publishing a rule book for boys gymnastics this year. The NFHS will conduct its last boys gymnastics rules interpreter meeting in February 2003.
Recruiting Rule Brochure: The Board reviewed a prototype of a brochure to be published by IHSA regarding the Recruiting By-laws. Once finalized, it will be provided in quantity to the membership.
Cross Country Finish Line: The Board discussed the finishes of the four races at the 2002 state final. In several races, the finish chute could not handle the numbers of runners attempting to cross the finish line at the same time. As a result, runners were backed up out onto the course and were scored accordingly. It was reported to the Board the Cross Country Advisory Committee will be making recommendations regarding the chute and finishes when its meets in its annual regular meeting Dec. 11.
Fall Meeting Reports: The Board heard reports of the annual Principals Rules Meetings, Athletic Director Division Meetings, Legislative Commission Meetings and annual Town Meetings. The Board also heard a report of proposals voted upon by the Legislative Commission that appear on the annual referendum ballot for 2002.
Sportsmanship Planning Meeting: The Board heard a report of the Nov. 18 Sportsmanship Planning Committee meeting. Among concepts discussed at the meeting was one to establish a Sportsmanship Advisory Committee for the IHSA and another to continue the joint committee with the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA).
Chicago Public League School Entries: The Board heard a report of entries into the fall and upcoming winter state series by schools from the Chicago Public League (CPL). In all fall sports, some Chicago Public League schools entered a team in the series and then did not participate. The entry of CPL schools in the different state series created new alignments of schools in the respective sports, and when schools did not participate in the respective state series, it created imbalances in the number of schools competing within the first level assignments.
Entry Fees: The Board discussed the entry fee structure for all sports and activities in which state champions are determined.
State Series Ticket Prices: The Board discussed ticket prices the 2003-04 school term, particularly for the super-sectional games in boys and girls basketball and for first and second round games in boys football. The Board instructed the staff to research ticket pricing in all state series and bring that research to the January 2003 (Jan. 13) meeting.